Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán called yesterday (18 February) for a global alliance against migration as his right-wing populist Fidesz party began campaigning for an 8 April election in which it is expected to win a third consecutive landslide victory.

The European Commission's proposal to link EU budget funds to the rule of law was seen as putting Brussels on a collision course with Poland. Jean-Claude Juncker recognised that there is a chance for rapprochement in the dispute with Warsaw. EURACTIV Poland reports.

Procedural problems prevented Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader from addressing the European Parliament's plenary session on Wednesday (7 February) and explaining the government’s current judiciary reforms, which many MEPs see as a threat to the rule of law.

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed on Tuesday (6 February) the controversial IPN Act, while at the same time referring it to the Constitutional Court for a final ruling. US officials have expressed disappointment over the Polish step, Ukraine lambasted the law and Israel declared it counts on “changes and amendments.” EURACTIV Poland reports.

Polish authorities claim that the launch of Article 7 against their country as unjustifiable. Citizens are divided on the issue and nearly half of them believe the Commission is just acting because it does not like the current authorities in Warsaw. EURACTIV Poland reports.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is an irritation to many EU politicians. However, it is becoming clear that the new Austrian government relies on dialogue and wants to fulfil a "bridging function". EURACTIV Germany reports from Vienna.

The Czech government agreed yesterday (31 January) to double the number of Ukrainians it was allowing in as fast-track migrant workers to 19,600 per year, aiming to help firms struggling to find workers and facing pressure from the workforce for wage hikes.

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis told the European Union on Wednesday (31 January) he would fight for the independence of his country's courts, which he and Brussels say is threatened by draft laws prepared by the Social Democrat-led government.

The recent statement by the Visegrad Four on the future of Europe is “an attack on European democracy”, Jo Leinen, a respected federalist MEP (S&D, Germany), said in a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday (30 January), ahead of a key summit in February focusing on the 2019 European elections.